Posted on: July 28, 2024
MotherKojiro
Verified ownerGames: 481 Reviews: 196
Uncomfortable, but Still Yakuza
This is the final chapter in Kiryu's story, and also my least favorite. Keep in mind that the series is excellent, so that's like saying that Mega Man 1 is my least favorite Mega Man on the NES; it's still really good. I think part of my issue is that this runs on the then-new Dragon Engine, which Kiwami 2 used later on; the combat never really felt quite right to me, and that might just be a personal thing. There were also parts where you have some low-key platforming elements, but you don't have a jump button or a prompt or anything, so I found myself occasionally or even repeatedly walking into an instant death pit. There were also a few weird story beats, like the part near the beginning where Kiryu just goes berserk and does something completely out of character; you'll know it when you see it. Overall, the game just felt uncomfortable, too, but that may have been the point; right at the beginning, Kiryu says something like, "Why do I always wind up back in this damn city." It doesn't seem like much, but until then, I'd never really thought about how Kiryu had felt about it all. It could be that the game was just conveying that he's old and tired, and just wants it all to be done. Aside from that, you've got a lot of the same old elements that make the series great, starting right off with some lovable new characters and a heaping helping of melodrama. As was to be expected, the game attempts to tie up any possible loose ends in Kiryu's story by THROWING THEM ALL INTO A BLENDER AT ONCE. Great stuff. The experience system is cool, giving you 5 different kinds to earn and spend on different skills, even if what you need is a little off-balance from what you get. Plenty of substories and minigames again, with some familiar faces as well as some great new entries. You'll find more than enough to enjoy, if you've come this far.
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